Bellaire City Council may approve an ordinance that would prohibit the feeding of cats on public and private property, during its Monday night meeting at 7 p.m.
Council directed staff to work on an ordinance that would prohibit cat feeders from leaving food on public and private property after several residents came before council, seeking its help about a colony of feral cats.
The residents told council that people come every night to feed the cats, leaving several plates of food for the property owners to clean up.
Margo Costello, president of Riverway Business Services at 5213 Spruce, told council on Sept. 20 that her flower beds have turned into a litter box.
Sue Strickland, of The Children’s Gallery at 5204 Spruce, told council during the Sept. 20 meeting that she has to clean feces out of the backyard every day before the children can go out and play.
After the Sept. 20 meeting, several of the cat feeders posted comments on InstantNewsBellaire and said that they felt like they were being harassed by the property owners. They also said they are trying to take care of the problem at their own expense.
D’Lane Viator, a Houston resident and one of the cat feeders, told council that there is about 30 – 35 feral cats in the Spruce Street area.
“I feed the cats, I know,” Viator said. “I’m the owner of those cats basically.”
Viator said she’s trapped about 100 cats and fixes them before releasing them back into the colony. She said the only way to solve the problem is to trap, neuter and release (TNR). Over time the colony will shrink and in the mean time, the cats will live a better life, she said.
If council approves the ordinance prohibiting the feeding of cats in certain areas, police will be able to ticket people who are caught feeding cats on public and private property. Cat feeders can be fined if they have not received permission from the property owner to feed on their property.
To view tonight’s agenda, click here.
Council will meet at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 7008 S. Rice Ave.
Facebook Comments